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• Drug Info:

Magic Mushrooms

Also known as:
‘SHROOMS – MUSHIES – MAJIES

WHAT IS IT?

Some types of mushrooms can cause hallucinations when eaten. They can be eaten raw, cooked in food or stewed in a tea.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

Possession of magic mushrooms is now illegal in any form e.g. fresh, dried or stewed, they are regarded as a class A drug; possession can then get you up to 7 years in jail and/or an unlimited fine. Supplying someone else with them can get you life imprisonment.

THE EFFECTS

• Magic mushrooms can have a similar effect to LSD, but have a shorter, milder effect.
• Can cause hallucinations; this means that objects, colours and sound may become strange or different.
• Can make you feel relaxed and feel ‘spaced out’.
• The effect will depend on who you are with, where you are and what mood you are in.

THE RISKS

• A big risk is if you eat the wrong kind of mushrooms. Some mushrooms are very poisonous and when eaten can cause stomach pain, sickness and diarrhoea.
• It can be very difficult to tell the difference between ‘magic’ mushrooms, and poisonous mushrooms.
• Once a ‘trip’ starts there’s no way of stopping it.
• You may have a bad ‘trip’ which can make you feel very panicky and scared for hours.
• People often hallucinate when they are ‘tripping’ and accidents may happen as a result.
• The strength of the effects will depend on how many mushrooms you eat. It can be difficult to know how much you can take safely.
• People who use magic mushrooms a lot can become mentally ill.

PLAY IT SAFE

If you are going to use magic mushrooms don’t use them on your own. Make sure you let someone know what you’re taking.
Try to think about how you are feeling and what your surroundings are like before you take magic mushrooms as this may affect the ‘trip’.

Don’t mix them with other drugs.

If you become unwell (vomiting, diarrhoea etc) and think you might have taken poisonous mushrooms, seek medical help immediately and go straight to the emergency department at the nearest hospital. Try to take a sample of the mushrooms and tell the hospital staff what happened.

Drugs can severely damage your physical and mental health. They can get you in to trouble with the law and even kill you.
But if you do decide to use drugs, reduce the risks by finding out as much as you can about the effects, risks, etc. and then decide if it’s really worth it.

If you do decide to use drugs keep these points in mind: –

If you’re dancing wear light clothing.

The smaller you are the less drugs you need to get the same effect, but where you are and the mood you are in will also affect the way you’ll react.

Don’t score off strangers; poor quality drugs can give you bad trips.
Mixing drugs and alcohol can be fatal.

Never drive if you have had drugs.

Always carry a condom; never risk unprotected sex.

FIRST AID
If your mate collapses call 999.
Get help to put them into the recovery position.
Tell the medics what they have taken.
IT COULD SAVE THEIR LIFE

This information leaflet has been put together by:
FUSION Young People’s Drug & Alcohol Service, and an initiative of the Gwent Council on Alcohol and Drug Misuse.

The information on this leaflet is correct at the time of going to press.

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